Chips off the old block

Make way for Generation, an exciting new band on the scene, which is launching its eponymous debut album under Star Records later this month.

Formed in 2008, the band is aptly called because it is composed of the sons of legendary recording artists Jose Mari Chan, Sampaguita and Celeste Legaspi. Joe and Mike Chan, who play bass and keyboards, respectively, have inherited the musicality of their father; Ige Gallardo, son of Celeste, plays the rhythm guitar; and Kowboy Santos, son of Sampaguita, is lead guitarist extraordinaire.

Joe and Mike went to the same high school as Ige. It was Ige who introduced the brothers to his friend Kowboy.

The band started performing gigs in Makati venues, such as Handle Bar, covering material ranging from The Beatles to the Doobie Brothers and to the Cars. A shared passion for these and other iconic artists eventually led the members to writing their own material and incorporating their songs into their live sets. In 2010, the band began recording an album of all-original songs, with all four members taking turns singing lead. Their first music video, Love Is Killing

Me, shot in black and white with King Palisoc as director, was launched last May on MYX Premiere, featuring Kowboy on lead vocals. The single itself is available on Starmusic. as well as in iTunes and Amazon. Generation promises to be one of the most engaging album releases in a while. It will be available in all record bars nationwide and all online music stores worldwide. The band’s brand of melodic and eclectic music can be best described as “new classic rock.” (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo. com. You may also send your questions to

askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)